AACG - Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass

Stephen Pon

Artist Statement:

From my very first works to my most recent, I express a vision of movement, of the journey of life. Like a winding stream, fate takes us to unsuspected places in a dreamlike universe where man, and the symbols which surround him, have all their importance. Sailing on the seas of fate, man is making his way. Affected by doubt, lyricism, dreams and the movement of water, I am inspired and try to express the relationships between nature and culture through my sculptures.

About Stephen Pon

Born in France, Stephen Pon was trained at Montreal’s Espace Verre, graaduating in 2000, and now maintains a studio and practice in Quebec, near Montreal. Pon is a master sculptor, and combines his sensitive aesthetic with in depth technical casting expertise. 

Pon has chosen to bet everything on art, to invest his life in the creation of unique glass sculptures, most often using the pate de verre technique. Over the years, Pon has developed a recognizable style which expresses his fascination with man, myth, and the eternal quest for meaning. With a fondness for equivocation, lyricism, the dream-world, and the movement of water that reminds us of the turbulence of life, Pon presents us with ship-bound characters bound for destiny. Over the years, his large-scale vessels have become symbolic ambassadors, elaborated, perfected, and reinvented with each of the artist’s creations.

His  work is constantly evolving; he has used the human figure to express the solitude of human existence, and more recently is including these figures in his series of gondolas and ships. In these sculptures his characters, imbued with expression and emotion, come together to form mini societies. These societies are inspired by ancient and contemporary sources, including myths and symbolism from Canadian first nation cultures as well as European narratives. They relate the stories and struggles of our interactions with each other, as well as act as metaphors for our hopes, dreams, visions, and quests. 

The artist also distinguishes himself by his outdoor works of art combining steel, glass, and light. Whether the light is natural or artificial, it gives glass a fourth dimension through the glass's transparency. Unique projects integrating architecture with private individuals complete his schedule. 

Pon's perseverance, his originality, and his mastery of technique have earned him a place as a Canadian representative at national and international exhibitions, including the SOFA exhibitions in Chicago and New York, and the International Biennieal of Crafts of Cheogngiu. Pon also represented Quebec at the Carrousel du Louvre. His works have been featured in publications, including GlasHaus, and he is represented by Galleries throughout Canada and the United States. His work is included in many public and private collections, including those of those of Loto-Quebec and Cirque du Soleil.  Click here for a tour of Pon's studio and works.

Click here for an artist's resume.

Acknowledgment of Gallery:
We are grateful to Duncan McClellan Gallery, St. Petersburg, Florida, for providing the Artist of the Month.